The United States changed their team and their formation for their friendly match against Canada, and so far they haven't seen too many positive results. There have been a couple of solid set piece opportunities and some nice attacks going through Clint Dempsey, but the USMNT have looked static for the most part. Canada doesn't have much of the ball, but they've looked like the more dangerous team so far. At halftime, the teams are locked up in a 0-0 draw at BMO Field in Toronto.
USA Vs. Canada: Halftime Score, No Goals In Static Match
Clarence Goodson is the third central defender to get a run-out for the United States after Geoff Cameron started against Scotland and Oguchi Onyewu got a start against Brazil. He had a couple of good opportunities to score on set pieces in the opening 10 minutes of the game, but missed both of them.
Edgar Castillo learned that he'd be starting just minutes before the match started when first choice left back Fabian Johnson tweaked an injury during warm-ups. He had a strong start to the game and has been a threat going forward for the United States, but had a couple of giveaways in his own half in the final 15 minutes of the first half.
Canada's first big chance came 10 minutes into the game, through Dwyane De Rosario. After a long spell where the United States controlled possession, the Canadians got forward quickly and created an opportunity for their star. He ripped a shot from the edge of the penalty area toward the far post, but it took a slight deflection and dribbled just wide of Tim Howard's goal.
In the 34th minute, Canada had a goal controversially waived off that should have stood. Cutting in from the right flank, Nikolas Ledgerwood hit a great narrow angle shot past Howard and into the back of the net for what should have been his first career international goal, but it was waived off for a foul a couple of seconds earlier on David Edgar. The foul call was extremely soft, and the goal should have stood.
After that incident, Dempsey started to drop deeper to pick up the ball and attempt to take over a game in which his teammates had been static. He was successful in creating a couple of half-chances and helping his team to look a bit more lively, but it didn’t translate to a goal. The United States has to be disappointed with the way they’ve played thus far, as they look nothing like the team that steamrolled Scotland.
Make sure to check out the U.S. vs. Canada StoryStream for all of your pre-match, live and post-match coverage.
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